Electric attachment for pianos.



PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

G. H. DAVIS. ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1901.

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No. 739,396. PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

G. H. DAVTS.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1901.

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G. H. DAVIS.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 9, 1901.

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PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

G. H. DAVIS.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1901.

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PATBNTED SEPT. 22,1903. G. H. DAVIS. ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1901 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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w I KEY A w\ \NN WITNESSES UN TED STATES Fatent'ed September 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS,'OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,396, datedSeptember 22, 1903.

Application filed May 9, 1901. Serial No. 59,350. (lie model.)

To (025 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOWLETT'DA- I vIs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Orange, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jersey,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Attachments for Pianos, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to electric attach magnet by means adapted to beoperated by the armature thereof to change the direction of flow ofcurrent through the magnet to in crease the resistance, whereby currentwill be saved and sparking between theselectorfingers and thecontact-bar and the consequent charring of perforated music-sheet willbe prevented.

The object of the improvements in the sliding music-sheet holder is toprovide means whereby the music-sheet may be wound on the take-up rolland the key-operating mechanism actuated when the holder is shoved inunder the keyboard of the piano and also when it is drawn out in frontof the keyboard to bring into view the music-sheet, so that theexpression symbols which are marked thereon may be readily followed.

Another object of this part of the invention is to provide theexpression and tempo levers each with a suitable scale or dial plateindicating the positions for said levers and to provide the adjacentlongitudinal margins of the musicsheet with corresponding scale marks orsymbols to indicate the point in the musical composition at which thelevers are to be manipulated and to what scale-marks they are to beadjusted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of apiano-keyboard, showing the improvements in position; Figs. 1 3, 5, and7, diagram matical views especially designed to illustrate the fourdiderent phases of resistance that the two helices of any, ordinarymagnet may assume when controlled by the means shown herein. Figs. 2, 4,6, and S are views of the'circuit-changing means in the four differentpositions indicated in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 7; Fig. 9, a front view of thesliding music-holder attached to a keyboard; Fig. 10, a plan viewthereof removed from the keyboard; Fig. 11, a plan view of a part of akeyboard, showing the music-holder drawn out; Fig. 12, a plan of thefront portion of the selector-finger-carrying frame; Fig. 12, a detailshowing the latch for securing the selector-finger frame to thestationary frame; Fig. 13, a detail of a-pivoted stop carried by theroll-holder; Fig. 14, a detail of the deliveryroll brake; Fig. 15, adetail of the latches for securing the two parts of the music-holdertogether, and Figs. 16 and 17 a vertical sectional View and partial planView of a slightly.- different form of music-holder.

- In operating electrically-actuated musical instruments in which aperforated paper mufull current is permitted to pass freely through.

the magnets every time the circuits are completed the batteriesare soonexhausted. The purpose of this invention when used with such alow-voltage current is to reduce the amount of current passing throughthe magnets and to thereby prolong the life of the batteries. Where ahigh-voltage current, such as the ordinary one-hundred-and-tenvoltlighting-circuit, is employed to operate a musical instrument of theclass described, it is absolutely necessary that the sparking at thecontact-fingers be reduced in order that the paper music-sheet will notbe charred and destroyed. In this instance the invention reduces theamount of current passing through the magnets before the circuit isbroken, and thereby prevents injurious sparking. Of course in thislatter instance current is saved; but when a high-voltage current isemployed such saving is not of importance.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Numeral 1 indicates what may be termed first contact; 2, the secondcontact, and 3 the third contact. Likewise 1, 2, and 3' indicatecooperating collars or projections upon a sleeve 4, secured to a rod5,which operates a piano-key and is connected to and moves with therockerarmature 8 of the magnet, which is formed with two helices orwindings. One helixwinding (N) of the magnet is indicated by 6 and theother (S) by '7. One terminal of this magnet-circuit is connected to thecontact-bar and the other terminal is connected to a key-selectingfinger, which is adapted to engage the contact-bar. We will assume thateach of the windings 6 and 7- has a resistance of two hundred ohms (R)and that the line has an electromotive force of one hundred volts. Nowas the current (0) is equal to the electromotive force R then when thecontact-collars 1'2 3arein their normal positions the current flows inthrough contacts 1 and 3 in multiple through their respective windings 6and 7, and the one-half ampere of current thus passing through eachwinding causes a powerful attraction of the armature, to which the rod 5is supposed to be connected at the point of its greatest movement, asshown ,in Fig. 1. Now after the armature and rod 5 have made half theirmovement, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, then contact-collar 1 has openedcontact 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and opens the current throughmagnet 6, thus leaving only one-half ampere to pass to line throughwinding 7 only. When the rod 5 has advanced, say,one-eighth inchfarther, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, contact-button 2 closes contact 2and the current, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, passes in seriesthrough'windings 6 and 7, allowing momentarily one-half ampere to passto the line. A final movement of the rod of one-eighth inch farther andcontact-button 3 opens contact 3, thus throwing the windings intoregular and direct series and allowing a passage of only one-fourthampere to the line, as clearly shown by Figs. 7and 8. Solong as thecurrent remains closed, which is regulated by the length of perforationin the music-sheet, then only one-fourth of the original or initialcurrent can pass, and therefore when an imperforate portion of the thinsheet again intervenes between the selector-fingers and the contact-barthe breakage of the reduced current produces but a slight spark, whereasif the full current or one ampere was flowing at the time thepaper ifthin would be charred or out to an extent sufficient to mar the notestruck and to run one perforation into another if the two perforationswere close together. All of these changes take place during theinfinitesimally short period of time that an actively-energized magnettakes to move its armature at divided by the resistance, expressed by 0:

its free end the distance of one-half inch. The rocker-armature 8 has afelt facing 9, which works on a bar 9, which is flush with the tops ofthe magnet-poles to avoid all noise of the armature contacting with thepoles. When the circuit is completed through the contact-fingers and thecon tact-bar, a current momentarily passes through both windings 6 and7, as will be ascertained by carefully tracing up the circuits, and themovement of the armature and rod 5 effects the change in the'circuit, asheretofore described. \Vith this improvement it is possible to get a sufficient blow to strike a piano-key properly with helics only one-halfinch in diameter.

It is an important point to be noted that in all other known means forreducing sparking far more wire is necessary to effect a givenresistance than is required in cases where the present invention isapplied, and as this invention is applicable to every possible form ofelectromagnethaving two or more windings or helices the monetary sav--ing which this invention effects is only secondary to the saving ofcurrent and sparking.

In order to make clear the economy of construction above claimed, it isonly necessary to take the form of magnet shown in Fig. l

as an example and assume, as before, that each of its helices is woundto a resistance of two hundred ohms and that four hundred ohms isincircuit at time of breaking contact by the imperforate portion of thethin paper music-sheet and that the initial flow of current should beone ampere in order to actuate a piano-key, which assumptions have beenfound to be true and real in practice. Now under any other method ofproducing the same initial and final flow of current an extra resistanceof at least two hundred ohms is necgssary either in the form of anexternal resistance or as an added resistance to the windings, and ineither case the added resistance is dead after the initial movement,whereas with the present invention applied to an ordinary magnet thewindings are not dead for any appreciable period of time. Inautomatically-operated musical instruments of the class described thereare generally either fifty-eight or sixty-five magnets employed, and toobviate the employment of two hundred ohms on each magnet is a monetarysaving of fully twelve dollars uponeach instrument.

The rocker-armature 8 (shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings) is of specialimportance and advantage when used in the manner described to actuatethe keys of a piano, since its action is practically noiseless, therebeing no hammering of the armature on its cores, as is the case with theordinary pivoted armature. Furthermore, the peculiar rocking zontalgroove To the under side of the keyboard of the piano is secured arectangular open support' ing-frame 15, whose parallel sides extendrearward, its front bar being parallel with the front edge of thekeyboard and nearly flush therewith. The side bars of this frame aregrooved on their inner sides near their lower edges to form thehorizontal guideways 16 in which fit the outward-turned ribs or flanges17, formed on the upper edges of the sides 18 of the slidingselector-finger-supporting frame 19, which forms the upper member of atwo-part music-holder. Connecting the sides 18 of this frame aboutmidway their ends is a transverse bar 20, which carries theselector-fingers 21, which are insulated from each other and from thebar. On the inner side near the lower edges of each of the sides 18 ofthis frame is formed an inward-extending supporting-way 22, which fitsin a horiforrned in the outer side of each of the side bars 23 of theroll-holder frame which forms the lower member of the music-holder, saidgrooves being near the upper edges of said sides. Journaled in each ofthe sides of the roll-holder frame near the forward end thereof is ashort stub-shaft 24, whose inner end is recessed to receive the adjacentend of the shaft of the music-sheet delivery-roll 25. The outer ends ofthese shafts 24 are formed into handles 26, which are to be grasped whenit is desired to slide the rollholderin and out on the selector-fingerframe. Near the rear end of the roll-holder frame is journaled thetake-up roll 26, and atabout the middle of the frame is mounted thecontact-roller 27. Adjustable stops 28 are secured to the bottom of thekeyboard and limit the inward movement of the roll-holder, and stops 29are secured to the supporting-frame to limit the inward movement of theselectorfinger frame.

A small gear 28 is secured to the shaft of the take-up rollfand meshingtherewith when the roll-holder is in its innermost position is a gear29, which is mounted on a shaft supported by a bracket from the bottomof the keyboard. On the outer end of this shaft is mounted a worm-wheel30, which is engaged by a worm 31, secured on a horizontal shaft 32,which shaft is parallel with the sides of the-music-holder and isrotated by the motor 33. Near its forward end this shaft is providedwith a second worm 34, which meshes with a worm-gear 35, secured on theouter end of a short transverse shaft 36. This shaft is suitablysupported from the keyboard,

and on its inner end is a gear 37, similar in size to the gear 29. Whenthe motor is in operation, the take-up roll is rotated in the properdirection to draw the music-sheet 38 or other key-selecting mediumbetween the selector-fingers and the contact-bar. By drawing out themusic-holder until the gear 28 of the take-"up roll 37 the take-up rollwill be rotated through the worm 34 and the gears driven thereby.

meshes with the gear.

At the forward end of each of the side bars A 18 of the frame 19 ispivoted an angle-lever 39, one arm of which extends rearward and carriesan upward-extending latch 40, which when the said frame is in itsinnermost position engages in a recess in the under side of the side barof the supporting-frame 15. A handle 41 is secured to the depending armof the angle-lever and is adapted to be grasped when it is desired todraw out the selector-finger frame. A suitable spring is provided toyieldingly maintain the latch in engagement with the frame 15. It willbe noted that when the handles 41 are pulled forward the latches 40 willbe released and the frame 19 permitted to slide on the frame 15. A stop43 is formed on the frame 19 to limit the forward movement of thehandle. It will thus be seen that the roll-holder may be quickly movedin or out without disturbing the selector-finger frame, the latches 40holding this latter frame stationary while the roll holder is beingmoved. At their forward ends the side bars 18 of the selector-fingerframe are each formed with a lateral horizontal extension 44substantially circular-in plan view. In the center of this extension ispivoted a lever 45,.the one on the right-hand side being the tempoleverand the other the expression -lever. The tempo-lever is formed with alateral arm 46, to the outer end of which-is secured a cord or wire 47,which passes around a small pulley 47, secured on the extension 44, andthen around a double-grooved pulley 48 on the side bar 18 near the rearend thereof and then around a similar pulley 49 on the stationary frame15, the distance between the centers of these two pulleys 48 and 49being equal to one-half the movement of the frame 19 for a purposehereinafter set forth. From the pulley 49 the cord passes rearward andis connected to the upper end of a pivoted brake-lever 50, whose lowerend engages a brakedisk 51, mounted on the motor-shaft 32. A spring 51normally holds the brakelever free of the brake-disk.

On top of the extensions 44 above the tempo-lever is secured a dial-disk52, which is marked"SloW at the left-hand side and Fast at theright-hand side, the space between these two words being divided intoten divisions, which are numbered from 1 to 10, beginning at thedivision nearest the word Slow. The lever is provided with anindex-finger which may be brought into register with any of thedivisions on the dial.

By moving thetempo-lever the speed of the music-sheet may be regulatedas desired. The extension 44, on which'the expressionlever is pivoted,is formed with a semicircular slot 'near its forward edge, and lacedacross this'slot is a suitable resistance 53, to which is connected oneterminal of the circuit in which are the key-operating magnets. Theother terminal of this circuit is connected to a contact device 54,carried by the lever and adapted to'engage the resistance 53. It

will be thus seen that by moving the expression-lever in the properdirection the pianokeys will be operated to produce loud or soft notes,as desired. Above the expression-lever is mounted a'dial 55, on whichare marked the words Soft and Loud. The space between these words isdivided into ten parts, which are numbered from 1 to 10, beginning atthe division nearest the word Soft. By moving the lever toward the wordLoud. the resistance is cut out, and in the reverse direction theresistance is out in to soften the blow of the piano-key.

The music-sheet 38 is provided with marginal numerals or symbols whichcorrespond to the numerals or other symbols on the adjacent dial, saidmarginal numerals indicat-.

ing the position in which the levershould be when that part of themusic-sheet is passing under the contact-fingers. The marginal symbolson the right-hand margin govern the position of the right-hand or tempolever, while the symbols on the left-hand margin govern the adjacentexpression-lever. Thus when the music-holder is drawn out to theposition shown in Fig. 11 and the take-up rolleris being rotated throughthe forward worm and the connected gears the music-sheet may be watchedand the levers 45 moved according to the indicating-symbols on theadjacent margins of the music-sheet.

It will be noted that when the m usic-holder is shoved in under thekeyboard, as shown in Fig. 1, the expression-levers may be manipulatedand the symbols on the music-sheet may be seen, but not to'so great anadvantage as when the music-holder is drawn out. It will also be notedthat by the arrangement of the cord 47 and the pulleys 4.8 and 49 aflexible connection is provided between the brake and the tempo-leverwhich may be readily operated while the music-holder is in either itsinnermost or its outermost position.

In Figs. 16 and 17 a slightly-different arrangement of the means fordriving the takeup roll is shown. In this form' the rear end of one ofthe side bars is formed with a depending lug, in which a short shaft 57is mounted. On the outer end of this shaft is securedaiarge gear 58,which meshes with a gear 59 on the inner end of a short shaft whichcarries a worm-gear 60, this latter gear engaging the rear worm on theshaft 32. i The take-up-roll shaft is provided with a gear which is onthe forward side of and meshes with a gear 61 on the inner end of theshaft 57. The forward worm on the shaft 32 engages a worm'gear 62 on ashort shaft 63. On the-inner end of this shaft is a gear 64:, simi larto gear 59. When the music-holder is moved forward, the gear 58 mesheswith the gear 64, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 16 and 17. When itis desired to further draw out the roll-holder to enable the operator toreadily connect a new sheet of music to the take-u p roll, it may bereadily done, as the gear connecting the take-up roll to the drivceasesing-gear is on the forward side of said gear and may be readily drawnaway from it, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 16 and 17.

To yieldinglylatch the selector-finger frame in its inner and also inits outer positions, a spring-latch 65 is secured to one of the sidebars thereof near its rear end, and recesses are formed in the bottom ofthe adjacent side bar of the stationary frame, one near the inner endand one near the outer end, as shown in Fig. 12. This spring-latch snapsinto one of these recesses when the frame 19 is in its correspondingposition, and it is so shaped that while it holds the frame againstaccidental displacement a quick pull will cause it to be released fromthe recess in which it is engaged.

To latch the roll-holder to the selector-finger frame, a latch-lever 66is secured to each one of the side bars thereof and engages the adjacentbar of the frame 19. When it is desired to separate the two members ofthe music-holder, the handles 67, carried by the latch-levers 66, aregrasped and pulled forward. In order that the gear on the take-up rollshall not be forced against its drivinggear when the roll-holder isshoved inward, a pivoted stop 68 is mounted on the rollholder near theforward end thereof and is adapted to engage a stop 69.0n the frame 19just before the gear on the roll-holder shaft engages its driving-gear.of the latch is then raised to release the rear end thereof from thestop, and the frame may then be forced to position. To hold thedelivery-roll from brake is provided. This brake consists of abrake-wheel 70, mounted on the shaft of the delivery-roll, on theperiphery of which bears a flat spring 71, whose rear end is secured ina cam-lever 72, whose upper edge engages a cam 73, carried by theselector-finger frame, when the two parts of the music-holder areadjusted to cause the selector-fingers and the contact-bar to register.

The motor for moving the music-sheet is set in motion by the push-button75, Fig. 12, carried on the front of the selector-finger frame andadapted to make and break the motor-circuit 76. The wires from theselector-fingers are collected in a cable, as shown in Fig. 10, and thecable is given one or two coils to provide suftioient slack to permitthe frame to slide back and forth without disturbing the connectionsbetween the fingers and their key-actuating magnets. In order that themusic-sheet may be quickly rewonnd on the delivery-roll, one of thestub-shafts 24 is provided with a small gear 77, and connected to thisgear is a train of gears 78, the driving-gear of which carries asuitable crank 79 for rotating it.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

.1. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for musicalinstruments, the

The forward end unwinding too freely, a

combination with the key to be operated, of two contacts, akey-selecting medium, means for moving the key-selecting medium betweensaid contacts, an electromagnet having a pinrality of helices in circuitwith said contacts, an armature provided with a curved face having arocking movement over the poles of the magnet to actuate said key duringsaid rocking movement, and means simultaneously operated to change theflow of currentthrough the magnet whereby the resistance of said magnetis varied.

2. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a piano-kcy,of two contacts,a key-selecting medium,means for moving said key-selecting medium to cause said contacts toengage each other, an electromagnet having a plurality of helices incircuit with said contacts, a rocker armature actuated by said magnetand having a connection with the key, and means simultaneously operatedto change the flow of current through the magnet whereby the resistanceof said magnet is varied.

In electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos or similarmusical instruments, the combination of two contacts, means for movingakey-selecting medium between said contacts, an electromagnet having aplurality of helices in circuit with said contacts, a rocker-armaturecontrolled by the magnet, switches operated by the armature andcontrolling the circuits through the helices to vary the resistance ofthe magnet, and key-operating means actuated by said armature.

4. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a key to be operated, of a pair of contacts, means formoving a key-selecting medium to cause said contacts to make and breakcontact with each other, an electromagnet in circuit with said contacts,a rockerarmature actuated by said electromagnet and constructed tooperate the key, a plurality of circuits through the magnet, and meanscontrolled by the magnet for making and breaking said circuit.

5. In an electrically-actuated key-selecting mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a key to be operated, of a pair of contacts, means formoving a key-selecting medium to cause said contacts to make and breakcircuit with each other, an electromagnet having a plurality of helicesin circuit with said contacts, a rocker-armature actuated by saidelectromagnet and having a connection with the key, a plurality ofcontacts for controlling the circuits through the helices of the magnet,and means controlled by the magnet for making and breaking saidcircuits, whereby the resistance of the magnet is varied.

6. In an electrically-actuated key'operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a key to be operated, of a pair of contact-s, anelectromagnet having a plurality of helices in circuit with saidcontacts, means for moving a key-selecting medium to cause said contactsto make and break contact with each other, a rocking armaturecooperating with the magnet, a key-operating mechanism actuated by thesaid armature, and means to change the flow of current through themagnet to increase the resistance of the magnet.

7. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a key to be operated, of a pair of contacts, anelectromagnet having a plurality of helices in circuit with saidcontacts, a keyselecting medium, means for drawing said medium betweenthe contacts, a rocker-armature cooperating with the magnet, akeyoperating mechanism actuated by the armature, and means controlled bythe magnetcircuit for changing the flow of current through the magnetwhereby the resistance of the magnet will be varied.

8. In an electrically-actuated keyoperating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a key to be operated, of two contacts, means fordrawing a perforated music-sheet between said contacts, an electromagnethaving a plurality of helices in circuit with the contacts, arocker-armature actuated by said magnet 'and'having a connection withthe piano-key, and means for changing the flow of current through themagnet-helices from multiple to series to increase the resistance.

9. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with a key to be operated, of two contacts, means fordrawing a perforated music-sheet between said contacts, an electromagnethaving a plurality of helices in circuit with the contacts, a rockingarmature operated by said magnet and arranged to operate the said key,and means also operated by said armature for changing the flow ofcurrent through the magnet from multiple to series to increase theresistance.

10. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with the keys to be operated, of a contact-bar, a series ofcontact-fingers, means for drawing a perforated music-sheet between saidbar and fingers, a series of electromagnets each having a plurality ofhelices each of said magnets being in circuit with a finger and thecontact-bar, a rocking armature actuated by each magnet, a connectionbetween each armature and one of the piano-keys, and means operatingsimultaneously with the key-operating means to change the flow of thecircuit through the magnet to increase the resistance in the circuit.

11. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with the piano-keys, of a contactbar, a series ofcontact-fingers, means for drawing a perforated music-sheet between saidbar and fingers, a series of electromagnets each having a plurality ofhelices each of said magnets being-in circuit with a finger-and thecontact-bar, rocker-armatures operated by said magnets to operate thepiano-keys, and means controlled by the magnet and operatingsimultaneously with the key-operating means to change the flow of thecurrent through the magnet to increase the resistance of the magnet. I

12. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination with the piano-keys, of a contact-bar, a series ofcontact-fingers, a key-selecting medium, means fordrawing the saidmedium between the bar and the fingers, a series of electromagnets eachhaving a plurality of helices each of said magnets being in circuit witha finger and the contact-bar, rocker-armatures operated by said magnetsto operate the pianokeys, and means operating simultaneously with thekey-operating means to change the flow of the circuit through the magnetto increase the resistance in the circuit.

13. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a music-holder, means for slidably supporting saidmusic-holder, a delivery-roll and a take-up roll supported on saidmusic-holder, a contact-bar and a series of key-selecting fingerscarried by the music-holder, means for rotating the take-up roll whenthe musicholder is in its innermost position to wind the music-sheet onthe take-up roll, and means to engage the take-up roll and rotate it inthe same direction when the music holder is drawn out.

14. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a music-holder, means for slidably supporting saidmusic-holder, a delivery-roll and a take-up roll supported on saidmusic-holder, acontact-bar and a series of key-selecting fingers carriedby the music-holder, means for rotating the take-up roll when themusicholder is in its innermost position to wind the music-sheet on thetake-up roll, means to engage the take-up roll and rotate it in the samedirection Whenthe music holder is drawn out, and a series of magnetscontrolled by the music-sheet to operate piano-keys, and means actuatedby the magnet-armatures to change the flow of current through themagnets to vary the resistance of the magnets.

15. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a music-holder formed of two members slidable upon eachother, means for slidably supporting said music-holder, a series ofkey-selecting fingers carried by one of said members, a delivery-rolland a take-up roll carried by the other member, a contact-bar betweenthese two rolls, and means for rotating the take-up roll. I

16. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a music-holder formed of two members slidable upon eachother, means for slidably securing said holder to a piano-keyboard, aseries of key-selecting fingers carried by one member, a delivery-rolland a take-up roll carried by the other member, a contact-bar betweenthese two rolls, means for limiting the inward and outward movements ofone of said members, means to connect the take-up roll with the drivingmeans, and means for driving the take-up roll.

17. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a music-holder formed of an upper and a lower memberslidable upon each other, means for slidably connecting the upper memberto a keyboard, means for limiting the inward and outward movement of thesaid upper member, a series of selector-fingers carried by one of saidmembers, a delivery-roll and a take-up roll carried by the other member,a contactbar between the two rolls, driving means for the take-up roll,and means for connecting the take-up roll to the driving means when theupper member is in either of its operative positions.

18. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a music-holder formed of an upper and a lower memberslidable upon each other, means for slidably connecting the upper memberto a keyboard, means for locking said upper member to the keyboard inits inner and its outer positions, a series of selector-fingers carriedby one member, a delivery-roll and a take-up rollcarried by the othermember, a contactbar between the two rolls, driving means for thetake-up roll, and means for connecting the driving means to the take-uproll when the upper member is locked in either its inner or its outerposition,

19. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos, thecombination of a m usic-holder formed of an upper and a lower memberslidable upon each other, means for slidably connecting the upper memberto a keyboard, means for locking the upper memher to the keyboard in itsinner and its outer positions, a series of selector-fingers carried byone member, a delivery-roll and a take-up roll carried by the othermember, a contactbar between the two rolls, means for locking the twomembers together to hold the selectorfingers in register with thecontact-bar, driving means for the take-up roll, and means forconnecting the take-up roll to the driving means when the upper memberis locked in either of its positions.

20. In an electrically-actuated key-operating mechanism for pianos,the'combination of a music-holder formed of an upper and alower memberslidable upon each other, means for slidably connecting the upper memberto the keyboard, means for limiting the inward and.

outward movement of the upper member, a series of selector-fingerscarried by one member, a take-up roll and a delivery-roll carried by theother member, a contact-bar between the two rolls, means for locking thetwo members together to hold the selector-fingers in register with thecontact-bar, driving means for the take-up roll and means for connectingthe take-up roll to the driving means when the upper member is in eitherits inner or its outer position.

21. In combination, a music-holder composed of two members, means forslidably supporting said members, a delivery-roll and a take-up rollcarried by one of the members, acontact-bar-and a series ofkey-selecting fingers carried by the other member, a handle carried bythe music-holder and adapted to be grasped when the music-holder is tobe drawn out, and a latch device connected, to the handle and lockingthe music-holder to the keyboard, in its inner position and adapted tobe released when the handle is drawn forward.

22. In combination, a music-holder formed of two members slidable uponeach other, means forslidablysupportingthe upper member from a keyboard,means for locking said upper member to the keyboard, a series ofselector-fingers carried by the upper member, a take-up roll and adelivery-roll carried by the lower member, a contact-bar carried by thelower member, a latch for locking the two members together to hold theselector-fingers in register with the contact-bar, a handle on the lowermember to be grasped when it is desired to draw out the lower member,means connecting said handle to the latch whereby said latch will bereleased when the handle is pulled forward, and means for driving thetake-up roll.

23. In combination, a music'holder, means for slidably supporting saidmusic-holder whereby it may be drawn out in front of a piano-keyboard, adelivery-roll and atake-up roll on said musicholder, a contact-bar and aseries of selector-fingers between said rolls, a driving means connectedto the take-up roll, and means for changing the speed of the drivingmeans when the music-holder is in its drawn-out position.

24. In combination, a music-holder, means for slidably supporting saidmusic -holder whereby it may be drawn out in front of a piano-keyboard,a delivery-roll and a take-up roll supported by said music-holder, aseries of key-selecting fingers and a contact-bar between the rolls, aseries of magnets in circuit With the fingers and the contact-bar, aresistance carried by the music-holder one terminal of themagnet-circuit being connected thereto, a movable contact device adaptedto be moved over the resistance and in contact therewith the otherterminal of'the magnetcircuit being connected thereto whereby resistancemay be cut in or out of the magnetcircuit.

25. In a self-playing piano or like musical instrument, a music-rollholder movably supported beneath the keyboard thereof and arranged to bemoved out to bring the music sheet into view and to be moved back underthe keyboard, a delivery and a take-up roll supported by themusic-holder, and mechanism for driving the take-up roll when themusic-holder is in its outer position.

26. In combination, a music-holder, a delivery-roll mounted in the frontthereof, a take-up roll at the rear thereof, a series of keyselectingfingers and a contact-bar between cats the positions for the movabledevice opcrating the speed-changing means, a resistance carried bythemusic-holder, and having one terminal of the magnet-circuit connectedthereto, a movable contact device engaging the resistance and having theother terminal of the magnet-circuit connected thereto, a scale-platefor said movable part having symbols thereon to indicate the positionsfor the movable contact, and a key-selecting musicsheet having symbolson each margin, those on one margin indicating the positions of thespeed-changing device and those on the other indicating the positions ofthe contact device.

27. In a self-playing musical instrument, a music-holder slidablyconnected thereto and adapted to be drawn out in view so as to exposethe music-sheet, means carried by said music-holder for supporting amusic-sheet, means for actuating the sound-producing devices of themusical instrument, means cooperating with the music-sheet forcontrolling the action of the sound-producing devices, and means foradvancing the musicsheet when the music-holder is in its drawnout orexposed position.

28. In a self-playing piano, at music-roll holder slidably supportedbeneath the keyboard thereof and adapted to be drawn out to bring themusic-sheet in view and to be moved in under the keyboard to conceal thesame, a delivery and a take-up roll supported by said music-holder, andmeans for driving the take-up roller when the music-holder is in itsdrawn-out or exposed position.

29. In a self-playing piano or similar musical instrument, amusic-rollholder'movably supported beneath the keyboard thereof andarranged to be moved out to bring the musicsheet in view and to be movedback under the keyboard to conceal the same, a delivery and a take-uproll supported by the musicholder, and mechanism for advancing themusic-sheet when the roll-holder is in its inner and its outerpositions.

30. In a self-playing musical instrument, a music-holder formed of twomembers slidable one above the other, a series of key-selecting fingerscarried by one of said sliding members, a contact-bar carried by theother sliding member, said contact-bar cooperating with the fingers, andmeans carried by the music-holder for delivering and taking up amusic-sheet.

31. In a self-playing musical instrument, a music-holder formed ofindependent slidable members, means for slidably connecting said memberstothe under side of the keyboard of the musical instrument, and meansfor locking the members together.

32. In a self-playing musical instrument, a music-holder formed ofindependently-slidable members, means for slidably connecting saidmembers to the under side of the keyboard of the musical instrument, andmeans for locking one of said members to the keyboard when it is in itsinner and in its outer positions.

In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a 1nusic-holder formed of an upper and a lower member slidable one upon theother, means for slidably connecting the upper member to the keyboard ofthe musical instrument, a series of selector-fingers and a contact-barcarried respectively by said members, and means for locking the memberstogether to hold the selector-fingers in register with the contact-bar.

234-. In an automatically-operated musical instrument,a music-holdercomprising a sliding drawer, a delivery and a take-up roller for themusic-sheet carried by said drawer, a gear-wheel on the take-up roller,separate gears with which said gearwheel may be brought into mesh whenthe sliding drawer is in different positions, and means for driving saidgears.

85. In an'automatically-operated musical instrument, a music-holdercomprisinga sliding drawelga delivery and a take-up roller for themusic-sheet carried by said drawer, a gear-wheel on the take-up roller,separate gears with which said gear-wheel may be caused to mesh when thesliding drawer is in different positions, a shaft having a gearedconnection with both of said separate gears, and means for rotating saidshaft.

36. In a music-playing instrument, a music sheet holder comprisingindependentlyslidable members slidably supported beneath the keyboard ofthe musical instrument, of a locking-lever pivoted to one of saidmembers and provided at one end with means for engaging the other memberand locking said members together when they are caused to register, anda handle on the other end of said lever for drawing out the membercarrying said locking-lever, said handle operating to unlock thelocking-lever when grasped to draw out the said member, substantially asdescribed.

37. In an automatic music-playing instrument, a music holder slidablyconnected thereto, a take-up roll and adelivery-roll for the music-sheetcarried by said holder, means for driving the take-up roll to wind themusicsheet thereon, a brake device mounted on a fixed part oftheinstrumentforcontrollingthe action of said driving means, andmanuallyoperable means carried by the sliding musicholder for operatingsaid brake device.

38. In an automatic music-playingattaehment for pianos, a music-holderslidably connected to the under side of the piano-keyboard, a deliveryand a take-up roll for the music-sheet carried by said holder, means fordriving the take-uproll to wind the m usicsheet thereon, a brake devicemounted on a fixed part of the instrument for controlling the action ofsaid driving means, a handlever pivoted to the slidable music-holder,and a connection between said hand-lever and brake device whereby thelatter may be operated during the inner and outer positions of theslidable music-holder.

30. In an automatic music-playing attachment for pianos, a music-holderslidable in a frame fixed to the under side of the pianokeyboard, adelivery and a take-up roll carried by the music-holder, a gear fordriving said take-up roll, a shaft journaled in'said frame and carryingsaid gear, a disk on' said shaft, a brake-lever arranged to bear on theface of said disk to retard the speed of rotation of the shaft, ahand-lever pivoted to the slidable music-holder, and a connectionbetween said hand-leverand brake-lever, whereby the latter may beoperated when the musicholder is in its inner and in its outerpositions, substantially as described.

40. In an automatic music-playing attachment for pianos, a music-holdercomposed of two independently slidable members ;connected to theunderside ofthe piano-keyboard, a delivery and a take-up roll carried byone of said members, a brake-wheel mounted on the shaft of thedelivery-roll, a spring-blade having a bearing on the periphery of saidbrakewheel, and a cam carried by one of said frame members and arrangedto act on the said spring blade, as and for the purpose described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 8th day of May, A. D. 1901.

GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS.

lVitnesses:

WM. R. DAVIS, J. A. E. ORIsWELL.

